If you are planning to undertake a kitchen remodel, apart from considering the cost, one of the main things that you will be wondering is, “How long does it take to remodel a kitchen?”.
Whether you need your remodel to be finished before a big holiday or event or simply want to know how long it will be until you can make home-cooked meals again, here is everything you need to know.
What is the average time for a kitchen remodel?
As you may expect, the time it takes to complete a kitchen remodel really depends on the size of the project, whether you’re hiring a team or plan to do it yourself, whether your desired materials are available, and what is required to complete your dream design.
That said, in regard to a complete custom renovation of a large kitchen, the average time to remodel a kitchen is somewhere between 10-14 weeks. If you are looking to remove walls, make structural changes, or switch up the floor plan, it may take more like 3-4 months to complete the project.
How long does it take to replace kitchen cabinets?
If you like the layout of your kitchen and just want your kitchen to have a new look, you could consider the replacement of your kitchen cabinets. Replacing your old components with new ones, rather than reconfiguring your whole kitchen, means that there is little construction required, just some customization. For a moderate-sized kitchen this can take an average time of 6 to 8 weeks and give your existing kitchen a whole new look.
Is it cheaper to reface cabinets or replace?
Refacing your cabinets is another way to give your kitchen a whole new look, and it is a lot less costly than replacing them. Refacing cabinets means that the exposed frames are covered in a thin layer of real wood veneer or plastic laminate. The drawer fronts and doors can then be replaced to match, along with new hardware to complement the new style.
Professional cabinet refacing is priced at around 50% of the cost of replacing with new cabinets, although this does depend slightly on the type of covering you choose. For instance, in a typical sized kitchen, the cost of refacing with laminate veneers starts at $1,000, whereas the cost of refacing with real wood veneers starts at $2,500.
You then need to add on the cost of the new drawer fronts and doors, and whatever hardware you choose. Although this bumps up the cost a little, it still works out as cheaper to reface cabinets, rather than replacing them.
Cabinet refacing is a perfect option if you are working to a budget, you like the layout of your kitchen, and your existing cabinets are still in really good condition. However, if your existing cabinets are falling apart or you don’t feel that they give you enough storage, it is probably a much better option to replace your cabinets with new ones.
In what order do you remodel a kitchen to save time?
Any kitchen remodel should be kept to a schedule to avoid any delays to the project and save time in the long run. With Skipp’s easy 4-step process, we can assist you in doing just that.
Step 1: Book Your 3D Measurements
Using our up-to-date technology, we only need 30-minutes to scan your space and be provided with precise measurements. This saves a huge amount of time with no need for multiple visits and no opportunity for human error.
Step 2: Personalized Layouts
With these accurate measurements, we can generate hundreds of layout options for your space. We will then narrow down the ones that we know will work best for you based on your budget, your needs, and your preferences, to supply you with custom layout recommendations.
Step 3: Tailored Professional Designs
At Skipp, we give you access to professional designers and provide you with specially curated design collections tailored to you.
Step 4: Streamlined Construction
We vet all our contractors to make sure that there are never any costly mistakes, with architect grade renovation planning to ensure that your kitchen construction is stress-free.
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Why do kitchen remodels take so long?
There are so many steps that go into kitchen remodeling, there are probably some that you have never even thought of.
One of the biggest time-eaters is having to wait for custom cabinets to be delivered once they have been ordered. Semi-custom cabinets can take around 6 weeks to arrive and full custom cabinets can take around 8 to 10 weeks to arrive. This is why it is so important to start the ordering process as soon as possible and don’t start demolishing your existing kitchen until all of your materials have arrived.
There are also a lot of steps that need to be completed before cabinets can be installed, outlined below, which can take a month or more to complete depending on how much construction there is to be done.
Below you’ll find a guideline for a typical kitchen remodel timeline.
DIY Kitchen Remodel Timeline Checklist:
Before Starting:
- Have realistic goals – decide what you actually need and what would be nice to have if it fits in your budget
- Set a budget – it is good practice to set aside somewhere between 10% and 20% for unplanned expenses
- Find a contractor – set aside time to interview a selection – reliable, good contractors are often booked out for 4 to 8 months at a time
Phase 1: Planning
Planning may only take a few weeks, but it could take a few months depending on the scale of your remodel.
- Collect measurements – your contractor can help you to gather detailed measurements – Skipp uses technology to collect absolutely precise measurements
- Choose a kitchen designer – a designer, like Skipp, can help you to create your dream kitchen, working to your budget
- Order samples – ordering cabinet samples can better help you to visualize how the style and color will work in your space so that you can make a decision on your favorite
- Apply for a building permit, if needs be – this will be if you are making alterations to the structure, plumbing, or electrics – getting a permit can take weeks or even months
- Finalize plans – detail who will be responsible for each step of your kitchen remodel and when each step should be completed by
Phase 2: Order Products
Choosing products and having them delivered may take several months, especially if they are custom, and it is best not to start demolition until they have all arrived on site.
- Choose appliances – their size will affect the layout and size of your cabinets
- Order cabinets
- Order any other materials – e.g. hardware, flooring, sink and faucet, lighting, etc.
- Inspect deliveries and store in a climate-controlled location
- Set up a temporary kitchen
- many people choose to have their kitchen remodeled during the spring and summer months so that they can grill outside
- you may be happy enough with a small refrigerator and microwave
- you may want to set aside some of your budget to eat out often
- Clear your existing kitchen
Top tip: look at ordering materials on Black Friday or during promotions in April and May. Even if you aren’t quite ready to start your kitchen remodel, you are likely to find materials at reduced prices.
Phase 3: Rough Construction
- Demolition – allow 1 week – make sure waste is disposed of responsibly
- Structural changes – allow 2 to 4 weeks – this includes adding or removing walls, and changing the location of windows or doorways
- Rough-in plumbing and electrics – allow 3 to 5 days for the work and 1 week for approval by a building inspector
- Install and paint drywall – allow 1 week
- Install flooring (unless it is a ‘floating’ floor which is done after the cabinets are installed) – allow 2 to 3 days
Note: if you are sticking to the existing layout, this phase could be completed within a week.
Phase 4: Finish Construction
- Install new cabinets – allow 3 to 5 days
- Measure, fabricate, and install countertops – allow 2 to 4 weeks depending on the countertop material
- Install new appliances, lighting, and plumbing – allow 1 to 5 days
- Add cabinet hardware, complete crown molding, touch-up paint – allow 1-2 weeks
- Install backsplash – allow 2-3 days depending on the material/detail
- Schedule a final inspection (if you needed a building permit)
- Clean up – allow 1 to 2 days
You’re done – you’ve got a beautiful new kitchen all your friends and family will drool over!
What is the cheapest way to renovate a kitchen quickly?
There are ways that you can cut down on your kitchen remodel costs, but that often means compromising on quality, or not getting that kitchen you have always dreamed of.
With Skipp, we can give you the kitchen of your dreams and save you both time and money.
In fact, with our amazing technology, we can save you an average of 40% on your entire kitchen remodel. We provide you with a beautiful, high-quality kitchen, without breaking the bank.
Is it worth it to remodel a kitchen?
Remodeling your kitchen may seem like a lot of money, but it truly is worth the investment. For most, the kitchen is the heart of their home, a place where their family and friends gather, share food and drink, and just have a good time.
Not only does a kitchen remodel make for even more enjoyment and pleasure, but it can also significantly help to add to the value of your home, should you wish to sell your home in the future. Most people will look at the kitchen in your listing pictures and decide then and there whether the home is for them or not, because (as we now know!) a kitchen remodel is a big project and not necessarily something you want to do after just buying a new home.
Ways to stay on track when remodeling a kitchen:
Taking on such a large project may seem a little intimidating, but there are a few ways to stay on track when remodeling a kitchen to take away some of the stress and give you peace of mind.
- Write things down – keep a hard copy of the timeline of your work so that you can tick off things as they are completed. This will allow you to easily keep track of your project’s progress and see what steps need to be done next. If you prefer, use free project management software like Asana or Trello.
- Set up a payment plan – paying for everything all at once can make you feel like you aren’t really in control, and it is a particularly large amount as one lump sum. Paying workers once their job is completed makes sure that they finish their work to your standard, and many smaller payments are a lot easier to manage.
- Get regular updates – have regular meetings with your contractor to ensure that you are happy with how the project is coming along and everything is still on budget.
A kitchen remodel can take months to complete and often requires a big budget, but it really is worth it in the long run. With Skipp, you can save both time and money on a kitchen that is specifically designed for you and your space, so don’t hesitate to visit us for your free Renovation Estimate.
